The Delayed and Lasting Rejection of Mammary Adenocarcinoma Cell Tumors in DBA/2 Mice with Use of Killed Bordetella pertussis

Summary

Transplanted mammary adenocarcinoma cells form solid tumors when injected s.c. in syngeneic DBA/2 mice. If approximately 26 × 109 killed Bordetella pertussis organisms are admixed with the tumor cells prior to inoculation, the formed tumors undergo a rapid and permanent rejection that beings 2 weeks later. The protection conferred is lasting and remains specific for the antigenic cell line of tumor originally used. The nature of the permanent remission strongly suggests that the formed tumors were rejected as the consequence of an immune response. Histological sections of rejecting tumors reveal an infiltration of macrophages, lymphocytes, and numerous mast cells. The possible role of mast cells in tumor rejection is discussed.

Footnotes

↵1 These studies were aided with funds from USPHS Grant 5T01 AM05391 of the National Institutes of Arthritis and Metabolic Disease.